CC calls for protests, strike on PM's visit

Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq adressing a news conference after the meeting of the coordination committee at Mirwaiz manzil , Rajouri Kadal on Thursday. Pic Owais Zargar

Srinagar, October 9: The coordination committee spearheading the ongoing self determination movement in the state has urged the people to hold peaceful protests on Friday followed by a complete strike on the next day against the two day visit of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the state. The CC also said that the Lal Chowk Chalo programme announced by it twice stands and the new date will be shortly announced.

“The people should hold peaceful protests after Friday prayers. On Saturday civil curfew should be observed to convey the message to India and International community that Kashmir issue needs to be resolved according to the wishes and aspirations of the people,” Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwiaz Umar Farooq said while addressing a news conference after a marathon meeting of the CC at Mirwaiz Manzil, Rajouri Kadal, on Thursday afternoon.

Mirwiaz was flanked by Hurriyat Conference (G) Acting Chairman Ghulam Nabi Sumji.

The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is scheduled to arrive on a two day visit to state on Friday. During his visit, he will inaugurate 450 MW Baghliar power project in Doda region on Friday besides flagging off the train from Srinagar station at Nowgam to Budgam, as a symbolic gesture on Saturday.

Condemning the government for using force to foil the Lal Chowk chalo march on Monday this week, Hurriyat Chairman said that government’s ‘suppressive acts’ to curb the voice of the people of Jammu Kashmir has unmasked the hollow claims of Indian democracy.

Mirwaiz said that Kashmir issue can be solved only if all the three parties to the dispute are involved .He said the bilateral talks in the past aimed at resolving the 62 year old vexed Kashmir dispute have failed to bare fruits.

“Government of India says we want to solve Kashmir issue. We welcome Indian Prime Minister’s statement in United Nations, but the Bilateral; dialogue or bilateral negotiations can’t be fruitful until the principle party to the dispute is not taken on board,” Mirwaiz said, adding “Peace talks can not be carried out when the force is used on peaceful protesters, people are booked under draconian laws and human rights violations continue unabated,”

He said that Kashmir issue is a political issue and it needs to be solved politically .He said that Kashmir issue cannot be solved by starting rail services, constructing dams or announcing economic packages.

Maintaining that the rehabilitation of the families of the people killed and injured during the recent uprising in the valley remains the priority of the CC, Hurriyat Chairman said that the families of the 52 martyrs will be taken care of .He said that the government employees have also decided to pay one day salary for the cause.

When asked to comment on the governments instructions to the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) President Mubeen Shah not to arrange a meeting of pro-freedom leadership with the visiting traders delegation from Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK), Hurriyat Chairman said that the visiting delegation are purely in state on the invitation of the KCCI.

“The traders’ delegations from Azad Kashmir are the guests of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries .The government should not create hurdles for them,” Mirwaiz said, adding “We will like to meet them,"